Trade Union Program for a Public, Low-Carbon Energy Future
Launched: November 4, 2021 — Glasgow, Scotland
Explanatory Note: The following “Trade Union Program for a Public, Low-Carbon, Energy Future” (“Program”) is the result of the work of a Trade Union Task Force consisting of more than 30 unions. Focusing mainly on the power sector, the Program is an attempt to rally the international trade union movement behind an ambitious political effort to bring about a fundamental shift in climate and energy policy. This shift is needed both to correct the failures of the market model and to ensure that the energy transition is socially just, economically viable, and effective in terms of reaching climate goals.
As announced in our previous Bulletin 116, on November 4, 2021, TUED, PSI and FNME-CGT convened a working meeting at the new headquarters of the Scottish Trades Union Congress in Glasgow. Under the title, “Reclaim Energy to Public Ownership and Control,” the meeting saw the launch of the “Trade Union Program for a Public, Low-Carbon, Energy Future,” which was developed through extensive deliberations over the course of the past year. Despite strict “physical distancing” requirements the meeting was full to capacity, with virtual participation from around the world.A videorecording of the meeting will be made available as soon as possible.The Program has already been reviewed and formally endorsed by key unions from both South and North, including:
The full Program is available online:
Unions wishing to sign on can email Lala Peñaranda at lalatued [at] gmail.com.
Upcoming Events
Expanding Democratic Control: Employment, Energy and EnvironmentNovember 7th, 2-4pm GMT (find your local time here)Coordination: The Party of the European Left; Democratic Left Scotland; Trade Unionist Network Europe
Speakers:
Register (in-person): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/expanding-democratic-control-employment-energy-and-environment-tickets-184241640707
Location:City of Glasgow College - Riverside Campus21 Thistle StreetGlasgow G5 9XB
Working Class Struggles Against Climate Change: Union Stories From the Frontline November 8th, noon-1pm GMT EN / ES / FR
NEW! Now you can join us online for this event. Register here to get your Zoom link.
Speakers:
A Corporate-led Transition Can’t Deliver on Climate: Toward Global Public Goods (morning session)November 9th, 10am - noon GMT (find your local time here) EN/ES
Speakers:
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/191821903477
A Corporate-led Transition Can’t Deliver on Climate: Toward Global Public Goods (evening session)November 9th, 6pm - 8pm GMT (find your local time here) EN / ES
Speakers:
Register (hybrid): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/191324154697
Recent PodcastsWhat Are Unions Fighting for at COP26?
Reinventing Solidarity Podcast — Episode 2131 October 2021https://soundcloud.com/cunyslu/what-are-unions-fighting-for-at-cop26This episode airs as COP26, the 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference, gets underway in Glasgow, Scotland. Our guest, Roz Foyer, General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, notes that this year’s Conference takes place during a time of growing awareness of market-driven forces’ failure to deliver the scale of energy transition that scientists agree is necessary to sustain life on this planet. She and Sean Sweeney also observe that people across the world have witnessed the necessity of large-scale government action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Both realities have given rise to worldwide calls for a similar, Global Public Goods approach to climate change. Roz suggests the shape such an approach might take as she discusses on-the-ground challenges in Scotland regarding public transportation, retrofitting, and other sectors crucial to climate change.
Reinventing Solidarity is a podcast produced by New Labor Forum and the CUNY SLU. The podcast features scholars, activists, and artists on the front lines of movements for social and economic justice.How Public Ownership of Energy Can Help Solve the Climate CrisisEuropean Public Service Union (EPSU) Podcast — Episode 55 November 2021https://soundcloud.com/user-484925963/episode-5-sean-sweeney-cuny-tuedEnergy is on everyone’s minds. With policymakers coming together for COP26 in Glasgow to discuss just how we can stall climate change, we sat down with Sean Sweeney, Director of International Program on Labor, Climate & Environment at the School of Labor and Urban Studies, CUNY; and Coordinator, Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED). Find out more about energy democracy and how democratic control and social ownership of energy can provide a solution to the climate crisis in the latest episode of #EPSUpodcast.For a full list of TUED events around COP26: https://tinyurl.com/TUEDatCOP26
In solidarity,The TUED team
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